Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-04-01

FLOORS TO BE DEVOTED no BUsINESS-NEARLY
AN ACRE OF FLOOR SPACE AND HALF MILE OF
COUNTER RooA-THR ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES
OF THE BUILDING.
Messrs. Woodward & Lothrop, the proprietors
OF the Boston Dry Goods House, win open their
handsome new store (the Carlisle bulding) to the
puohc tomorrow morning, and their many Gus
TONER'S Will doubtless be glad to have an OppOr-
tunlty Iomake their purchases where they can have
good accommodations and good light This fine
Dulidlng was erected expressly for the use Of
Messrs. woodward & Lothrop, having been COM
lehced nearly year ago and completed
III Cime Tor its occupation tomorrow
IL Is rectangular in FORM excepting the truncated
angie at the main entrance fronts SO feet on F
street and 119 feet on 11th and is five stories and
basement in height. The exterior is mainly Of
orlck, the architectural effect being obtained by
large openings OF varied form, and spar1ng use
OF stone nodded brick and terra Gotta. The style
may be classed as Italian Renaissance. The cor
NICE, ~ rect from the ground is of "copper" as also
is the patchwork between the third and fourth
story windows and the projecting ShOw-wtndOw
on lin street. This window forms one of the
IN length, while that On street is 33h feet max
Ing s9H feet, beside the small window OF No. 1913
adloinlng The glass is polished French plate,
(whlch Is also used throughout the building, ex-
cepung the hfth-Story w1ndOws) Some OF the
nghtS are OF unusual size, several being 1lx12 feet
THE BASEMENT.
The front portion OF the basement is assigned as
sales-room for domestics and housekeeping goods,
white goods, coored wash fabrics, &C., and It is re-
markably light and well adapted for this purpose.
The dimensions OF this room are 56x6S feet.
In the rear portion are located dressing, ward
robe ana toilet rooms for the employees, and the
engineers room, containing the engines, pumps &C.
The two 60-horse power boilers are located In q
vaulted room built under the 18th street sidewalk,
separator from the store by an open area thus not
dn from Ap0 hrYf roc
Ing the heat from the basement.
Inc Dulldlng is heated throughout by steam,
lwltn tne radiators in most cases located under
the c0unters) by what is known as the exhaust
system-by which the exhaust steam from the
pumps and engine, which would otherwise be
wasted, Is utilized for heating purposes. This
work has been very efficiently done by Mr. E. L.
Dent Co., Washington.
THE FIRST FLOOR
Is assigned as the sales for dress goods Silks
laces, ribbons, gloves, gents furnishings, hand
kerchiefs and small wares. Connected with the
silk department Is dark room for showing the
t1al feature, as oftentimes goods which appear by
daylight TO be OF desired shade under the gas light
VIII be changed in shade entirely. The shipping
room, Where parcels are assorted and transferred
to delivery wagons, is located in the OF this
story, where direct access can be had from the
large yard and alley. At the right OF the main
stairway Is q "bureau OF Information" where in
qu1reS will be answered relative to the arrival and
departure OF trains and mails the time Of opening
vaong Iee the
procure postage stamps, and have checked and
cared for temporarily their satchels parcels &C.
which may be inconvenient to carry while shop
ping.
LADIES' RECEPTION ROOM
over the shipping room, commanding a view Of
the main floor, is mezzanine story, handsomely
fitted up for ladies' reception room, decorated In
oriental style, with handsome tiled fireplace
ornamental balustrade and frieze screen where
n1h fnnS
which will be found great convenience for lady
shoppers, and especially those from out OF town.
house, and will doubtless prove very attractive
one. Opening from this room is a lavatOry and
toilet room for ladies. Access to the reception
room is from the main stairway, six feet WIDE
which in itself is handsome, and when taken In
connection with the reception room the effect is
very pleasing.
full drinking fountain OF Tennessee marble, which
is supplied with water cooled by forming the pipes
in coils in large tank and packing them around
pur1t1es which the ice might contain.
Realizing that more room would be required than
this new building would afford, the firm have
leased from Nh. Carlisle also the adjoining build
ing, No. lob street, and, by lar &c arch open
ngS in the separating wall, the counters are con-
ttnued through from the new building on the first
containing {, 200 superficial feet.
THE SECOND AND THIRD STORIES.
On the second story is located the offices of the
firm, which are in the most retired portion and
are fitted with wash-bowl, wardrobe, &C. The
main portion, however, is devoted to salesroOm
for boys clothing, ladies' muslin underwear, cor
sets, infants underwear, misses dresses, Ham,
burgs and art embroidery, and, with the large
show windows continued into this story, Is hardly
inferior to the main room below. The third floor
Is assigned as SaleSrOOm for ClOakS, ladies' and
misses suits, jerseys, gOSSamerS, and for dress
making. In the rear are three fitting rooms,
where ladies' garments may be tried on, and
where measurements Will be taken for tailor
made costumes
THE UPPER FLOORS.
The front portion OF the fourth story assigned
the sale OF curtains and upholstery goods and the
light is practically perfect. Here, also, are the
reserve stOck-rOoms rooms for use in connection
with the Ofhce, communication being had by speak
Ing tubes and by a small spiral staircase, a room
for the display OF samples by travelling statesmen,
and also for the mail-Order department. which has
become an important feature of large retail eStab
l1shmentS, that OF this firm comparing favOrably
with those In other large cities
The fifth floor is given up to the manufacturing
ana dreSsmak1ng departments.
THE SIZE OF THE BUILDING.
Some idea OF the size OF the building may be had
when 1t Is known that in the two buildings there
are 4S 800 square feet OF available space nearly an
acre. The counter surface alone aggregates more
than 5000 square feet, sufficient to form cOntin-
uous counter feet inches wide along the curb
from the Boston Store to the Treasury Denart.